News in Brief

Lawsuit: Former RFTA driver has history of poor drivingAn Aspen woman is suing the Roaring Fork Transportation Authority and a former bus driver for more than $100,000 for injuries she allegedly suffered in a 2005 accident.Gailyn Waldron’s lawsuit says the bus agency hired John Lacey, also of Aspen, despite his lengthy history of driving offenses. On Feb. 9, 2005, Lacey’s RFTA bus collided with Waldron’s 1990 Audi at Cooper Avenue and Garmisch Street.Lacey was cited for failure to stay in his lane, the lawsuit says. Waldron endured pain and suffering, mental and emotional suffering, and loss of enjoyment of life; the Audi was totaled.The lawsuit says Lacey has been cited previously for a lane violation, as well as speeding and running a stop sign.Man arrested in March theft caseA Michigan man who allegedly stole a $4,500 necklace from an Aspen boutique in March turned himself in Thursday.James Murray, 41, of West Bloomfield, is charged with felony theft. Employees at Polo Ralph Lauren said Murray was caught on surveillance video March 5 removing the necklace from a mannequin, sticking it in his pocket and leaving.He was with two men, one of whom paid for a purchase in the store with a credit card, court papers say. Police were able to track down this shopper, who said the suspect was a friend and a successful businessman. He said he would tell the suspect to call the Aspen investigators.Murray called in late April and said that his attorney had counseled him to “just pay it,” the arrest affidavit states.He allegedly said that money is not an issue, “to an extent,” and wondered “how much can a necklace cost?” The affidavit says Murray denied stealing the necklace and “just wanted the matter to go away.”Murray allegedly offered to pay for the jewelry. But a Polo employee said his company’s corporate loss prevention division wanted to pursue prosecution.Man faces assault, theft chargesA former Florida resident who traveled to Aspen with a former lover was arrested Friday on charges he punched her and used her car to sell skis stolen from a local filmmaker.George Morse III, arrested Friday, is charged with felony theft and misdemeanor assault. He allegedly roughly grabbed the victim’s arm and then hit her in the jaw as they drove into Aspen from their camping spot up Independence Pass.The arrest affidavit says he also used her car to transport $2,000 worth of skis taken from Aspen filmmaker Greg Poschman to a buyer. Morse denied stealing the skis and refused to name the buyer.He was held on a $6,000 bond.Vandals strike high schoolA rash of break-ins and vandalism in Rifle continued Monday when vandals struck Rifle High School and the Garfield School District Re-2 Transportation Department building, causing about $10,000 in damage. “We’ve been a target all summer long,” said Re-2 spokeswoman Theresa Hamilton. “This is our eighth break-in or vandalism attempt.”Sometime between 8 p.m. Sunday and 6 a.m. Monday, somebody broke into RHS and spray painted purple the RHS bear mascot in the main office, vandalized class photos and the DECA store, discharged two fire extinguishers on a bank of computers in the school computer lab and broke up to 20 windows. Thirty percent of the school’s classrooms were entered, Hamilton said. The vandals also hit the district transportation building, destroying a copy machine, a vending machine and a computer monitor. They also decorated the building with graffiti, she said.Rifle Police confirmed Monday’s break-ins but declined to comment further. (Glenwood Springs Post Independent)